What age did you start HRT?

[Rolloisthebestpony]

I’m 41 and going to ask for it

46, but only briefly. I didn't do well on it, so came off it after about 3 months (and felt much better for it)

For those asking, the main problematic symptom for me was anxiety. Never had any MH issues before 40. I had a side dose of inability to sleep, aching joints, dry skin, tinnitus, no sex drive but I could live with those - just not the anxiety.

40 and not a moment too soon, thought I was going mad. It's honestly saved my career.

You may never need it.
I know HRT helps many women, but the menopause is a not a disease state.

Other cultures don't see the widespread use of HRT- women in Japan take a different approach, HRT is not popular or needed.
It is suggested that the Japanese diet helps reduce symptoms.
A diet high in oily fish and especially soya products - which contain plant eostrogens- are thought to play a part in sailing through menopause easily.
Obesity can can make menopause worse, keeping fit and slim seem to play a part too.

I wouldn't deny the positive impact that HRT has for some women, but we don't all need it.

Under 45 they may measure your FSH levels but it's not a reliable test as it fluctuates so much. My levels were high but not high enough to count, but I definitely was, and am, perimenopausal.

Over 45 they (should) go on symptoms alone and no FSH test.

@heartofglass23 hot flushes/ sweats are quite a late symptom - usually experienced in those close to or past menopause. Brain fog, sleep issues, anxiety etc tend to start sooner.

44 should have started 2 years ago but resisted. Feel much better on it.

To those of the same age wondering, if you have no symptoms then no need.

For me, anxiety (never suffered before), very low moods, before period depression, the rage..like I was having an out of body experience, irregular periods, flooding, brain fog.

Got the Mirena coil fitted and HRT and everything has settled, thankfully.

52 but had a mirena for many years which may have relieved some symptoms.

42....had to fight for a couple of years before a doctor would believe me.

It's good that it's eye opening for some that there are loads of us in our early 40s (or younger) on/needing HRT. Knowledge = early treatment of symptoms, assuming GPs are similarly clued up.

I don’t deny all your saying about Japanese culture, however I am slim, very active, healthy, good diet but did need HRT at 44, despite trying to be healthier my symptoms were getting worse.

How do you know if there are a? Any symptoms and b) are they due to (peri)menopause if on the pill amd have don't have a break between them?

54

47...I should have started at 44-45.

Blimey, I'm late to the party.......51

At 41 I have a vast range of symptoms that could be menopause related (eg itchy skin, bowel issues) but the deal-breakers are anxiety, THE RAGE, and irregular periods point towards peri.

I’m not being fobbed off.

50 … I had our third child At 48 and my hormones just went haywire afterwards. I was very anxious, not sleeping even when I could sleep, had very low mood, dry itchy skin, dry eyes and hair falling out in handfuls way past the first post natal months. At first I thought I was suffering PND but my symptoms just went on and on… even after talking therapy and DC 3 sleeping through … so I joined the dots.

I started 1mg oestrogel daily and 200mg Utrogestan 12 days out of 28 and it’s made a big difference. I can now drive again without shaking abd thinking I’m about to crash all the time and I sleep better especially in the progesterone days. The only downside is that I have put on about 2 stone since I started late last year which I’m trying to lose. I know medical professionals say weight gain on hrt is due to age not the body identical hormones but it seems too much of a coincidence to me! I literally started putting the weight on as soon as I started taking it. Would rather be fat and happy than thin and miserable though.

Just to add symptoms fluctuate and HRT isn't a magic pill. My joint pain has completely gone. I was running 10km late 30s and was hobbling upstairs on my hands and knees at 45. I can now run again 5km atm. I still have anxiety sometimes and feel meh a lot of the time.

God I’d forgotten all about aching joints. The HRT had completely sorted that abd that came on around 45.

I was fit and slim… before perimenopause. Stomach fat appeared out of nowhere despite calorie counting followed by joint pain that has stopped me running or even walking much 😢

47 - HRT helps massively but I do also take additional supplements like vitamin D & magnesium plus took up exercise & changed diet to lose weight so I think it’s a combination of things that help

Periods started changing at 40. Symptoms started at 42. Started HRT at 45. My regular male GP said he thought I was too young at 45, two female Dr's practically chucked HRT prescription at me without me bringing it up.

45 - I might have held out longer but with a lot of osteoporosis in the family I didn't want to wait any longer.

@Mummyofdoggies the pill provides estrogen and progesterone at what are effectively higher doses than HRT (it's a bit more complicated as it's a more potent synthetic hormone) so while it can relueve peri symptoms, women should generally think about coming off the pill at some point during their 40s, at which point they may need HRT (and contraception!). People are hyper aware of the risks of HRT but there's a lot less awareness that HRT is generally less risky than the pill in at 50 and beyond. It's hard to be sure what symptoms are peri as they overlap with other conditions so sometimes it can help to try HRT to see if it makes a difference - if it doesn't, keep looking for other solutions as it's not a universal panacea.

The reason I saw the GP (at 44) was crazy hot flushes. My face would suddenly be burning red mid conversation with people as if I were blushing, it was embarrassing as I certainly wasn't! They were terrible at night and I was waking multiple times. Also my anxiety (generally bad but had been better in recent years) went through the roof suddenly to the point of struggling to get through the day without multiple panic attacks.

When I started HRT some other things got better though too, as well as the above. I'm far less achey waking up. I previously had some acne on my back, which has completely gone. As has dry and itchy skin

I was 41 but should have gone earlier as was well into peri at that point and thought I was having a breakdown.